LALMONIRHAT, Oct 15: A good number poor and marginal brinjal farmers of large Lalmonirhat district are seen happy over expected production and fair market prices of the vegetable in this current season.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office source, the farmers of the district have brought over 2,000 hectares of land in five upazilas this year hoping for financial self-reliant. They are also getting satisfactory production due to favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agri-input, DAE added.
Local vegetable traders said growers are selling the crops with Tk 1,600 to 1, 8400 per maund to the wholesalers. They also express the wholesalers are purchasing the fresh egg plant from the growers with satisfactory market price. They are also sending the vegetable item to different district including the capital city Dhaka mitigating the local demand.
Sub-assistance agriculture officers said growers spent Tk 13,000 to 14,000 for farming brinjal on one bigha of land and got 25 to 30 maunds of yield. Brinjal farming is proved them more profitable than other crops cultivation, he added.
"I cultivated brinjal on seven bighas spending Tk 55 thousands and I have already sold some 40 maund with Tk 70 thousand," said Sarowar Hossain, 56, of Fulgachh village of the district. He also said, "I am expecting to earn Tk one lakh from the remaining crops if the weather condition remain favourable till December."
Vegetable trader Zakir Hossain, 55, of Kumrirhat market under Aditmari upazila of the district, said they are selling brinjal now for Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg in retail market. We purchase one maund of brinjal for Tk 1,900 to Tk 2,000 from the middlemen, he said.
Deputy Director of DAE Bidubhushon Roy said brinjal has been cultivated massively in the district as its cultivation is more easy and lucrative. The overall weather is helpful for vegetable farming, so farmers are getting expected production and good prices after the flood, he added.
